Russian lawmaker says government will protect environment of Kavkazskiye Mineralniye Vody

Sergey Katanandov, deputy head of Russia's Federation Council Committee for Federal System, Regional Policy, Local Self-Governance and the North, a senator from Karelia, has described the bill on special protection of Kavkazskiye Mineralniye Vody.

The senator said that Kavkazskiye Mineralniye Vody reached its peak in the Soviet times. President Boris Yeltsin signed a special decree in the 1990s to support resorts, some of them gained federal status, some were distributed between businessmen, according to Katanandov.

Chairwoman of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko visited Kislovodsk and saw many problems that needed solutions, he reminds. Russian Vice Prime Minister Alexander Khloponin signed a special resolution for Kavkazskiye Mineralniye Vody. Katanandov said that the State Duma was working on bill on an ecological and resort region, formation of a national park in Kislovodsk, amendments to the Land Code.

The senator named the following problems that needed solving: binding republics of the North Caucasus, preservation of landscapes, high ticket prices.

Katanandov compares the topicality of problems in Kavkazskiye Mineralniye Vody with those of the Far East. He emphasized that Russians needed to visit the North Caucasus for high-quality services.